The Falcons are heading into Thursday night in Green Bay without the player who’s been their most dependable corner for years.
Atlanta placed A.J. Terrell Jr. on injured reserve Tuesday because of a groin injury, a move that forces the starting cornerback to miss at least four games and keeps him out until Week 7 at the earliest. Terrell went down in Sunday’s 34-3 home loss to the Carolina Panthers, leaving in the first quarter and never returning.
The injury unfolded in stages. Terrell was first evaluated for a concussion and cleared, then trainers identified the groin issue that ended his day. He did not practice Monday, and the team has not given a longer recovery timeline.
To fill the roster spot, the Falcons signed defensive lineman Zach Harrison from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. Harrison, a 2023 third-round pick, had already been elevated for the Panthers game.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the transaction first, writing: “The #Falcons have another injury, as starting CB A.J. Terrell Jr. was placed on IR and they signed DL Zach Harrison to the 53-man roster.”
Atlanta’s own announcement matched those details and added that C.J. Henderson finished Sunday’s game opposite Mike Hughes.
That combination is expected to remain in place. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich called Terrell “the best boundary corner in the NFL” and said he has no hesitation turning to Henderson, a former first-round pick who has provided steady depth in the secondary.
The Falcons also have Avieon Terrell in the mix. Drafted in the second round this past April out of Clemson, the younger Terrell has been working at nickel and can move outside if needed. He grew up watching A.J. start every game he has played for the franchise since Atlanta selected him 16th overall in 2020.
The timing is rough for a team that desperately needs something to settle down. Atlanta is 0-2 and has scored only 16 points.
Cooper Rush started both losses, then was pulled in the third quarter Sunday after throwing two interceptions and losing a fumble. Undrafted rookie Jack Strand came in and threw a pick-six on his first career pass.
The Mercedes-Benz Stadium crowd made its frustration clear.
Now the Falcons are turning to Michael Penix Jr., who is back from last November’s ACL tear and has been named the starter for Thursday night at Lambeau Field.
The schedule leaves little breathing room. After the short week, Atlanta goes into three straight prime-time games, and the loss of Terrell strips away the defense’s most trusted boundary presence right when the offense is trying to find its footing with a new quarterback. Green Bay enters at 1-1 after an overtime win over the Jets.
Terrell signed a four-year, $81 million extension in 2024, and his absence adds another major hit to a roster already dealing with injuries, including Da’Shawn Hand on IR. Henderson and Avieon Terrell will be asked to protect the edges while Penix tries to lead the Falcons to their first red-zone trip of the season.
How quickly that secondary adjusts may decide whether Thursday night becomes the start of a turnaround or just another rough chapter.
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